Richard Gauthier Collection

Chester Racecourse

Although unofficial races were held before 1511, it was in 1539 that the Mayor of Chester, Henry Gee, gave permission for races to be held in the city on Thursday 9th February 1539, and he will forever be remembered when people talk about 'going to the gee gee's'. Chester’s Roodee course is by far the oldest in England, with one of the earliest recorded meetings taking place on Shrove Tuesday while Henry VIII was still on the throne. The course was, at that time, known as the Roode Eye and a special silver bell, costing 3s.4d, was given as a prize to the winner of the race. A feature of Chester races, even to this day, is that racegoers and horses walk to the racecourse through the city. In 1610 the former Sheriff of Chester, Robert Amory, established the St George’s Bells race, with 3 bells of differing values given as prizes. The race passed through the New Tower and up Watergate, a route followed by many horses and punters today. A new law was passed in 1740, during the reign of George II, which decreed that horse races could not be run for less than £50. This meant that smaller courses could not compete, but also forced Chester to increase the prize for the Corporation Plate (later to be called the City Plate) to £50. In 1813 the inaugural running of the Dee Stakes was won by Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, while in 1824 the Chester Cup, known in its earliest days as the Tradesman’s Cup, was contested for the first time when won by the 6 year old Doge of Venice carrying top weight. His owner, Sir Thomas Stanley, was triumphant again in 1827 with Grenadier. The Chester Vase was first contested in 1907 and resulted in a dead heat. It is now used as a classic trial because Chester’s left handed turns mirror those experienced at Epsom. Currently Chester offers 15 magnificent fixtures annually.

1824 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Doge of Venice owned by Sir T Stanley
1825 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Hymettus owned by Lord Grosvenor
1826 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Brutandorf owned by Mr Clifton
1827 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Grenadier owned by Sir T Stanley
1828 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Fylde owned by Mr Clifton
1829 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Halston owned by Mr Mytton
1830 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Felt owned by Lord Derby
1831 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Independence owned by Mr Beardsworth
1832 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Colwick owned by Mr Beardsworth
1833 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Pickpocket owned by Sir R Bulkeley
1834 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by The Cardinal owned by Mr Miles
1835 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Birdlime owned by Mr Mostyn
1836 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Tamworth owned by Mr Peel
1837 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by General Chasse owned by Sir J Boswell
1838 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by King Cole owned by Mr T Walters
1839 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Cardinal Puff owned by Lord Westminster
1840 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Dey of Algiers owned by Colonel Peel
1841 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Cruiskeen owned by Lord Milltown
1842 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Alice Hawthorn owned by Mr Plummer
1843 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Millipede owned by Mr Wormald
1844 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Red Deer owned by Duke of Richmond
1845 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Intrepid owned by Mr Skerratt
1846 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Coranna owned by Mr G H Moore
1847 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by St Lawrence owned by Mr Drinkald
1848 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Peep-O-Day Boy owned by Lord Howth
1849 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Malton owned by Mr H Stebbing
1850 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Mounseer owned by Hon. Major Pitt
1851 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Nancy owned by Mr T Lister
1852 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Joe Miller owned by Mr Parker
1853 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Goldfinger owned by Mr Palmer
1854 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Epaminondas owned by Captain Lane
1855 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Scythian owned by Mr Howard

1856 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by One Act owned by Mr Parker
1857 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Leamington owned by Mr F Higgins
1858 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Vanity owned by Sir C Monck
1859 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Leamington owned by Mr F Higgins
1860 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by St Albans owned by Lord Aylesbury
1861 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Ben Webster owned by Mr Barder
1862 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Tim Wiffler owned by Mr Jackson
1863 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Asteroid owned by Sir J Hawley
1864 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Flash in the Pan owned by Mr Hughes
1865 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Dalby owned by Mr W G Bennett
1866 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Dalby owned by Mr W G Bennett
1867 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Beeswing owned by Mr A Heathcote
1868 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Paul Jones owned by Mr G Hodgman
1869 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Knight of the Garter owned by Lord Calthorpe
1870 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Our Mary Ann owned by Mr T Hughes
1871 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Glenlivat owned by Mr W H Scott
1872 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Inveresk owned by Mr W Nicholl
1873 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Field Marshall owned by Mr Bowes
1874 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Organist owned by Mr R C Vyner
1875 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Freeman owned by Mr Heneage
1876 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Tam O’Shanter owned by Mr Johnstone
1877 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Pageant owned by Mr F Gretton
1878 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Pageant owned by Mr F Gretton
1879 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Reefer owned by Lord Dupplin
1880 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Fashion owned by Mr L de Rothschild
1881 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Windsor owned by Sir J Astley
1882 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Proudhomme owned by Lord Rosebery
1883 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Biserta owned by Mr L de Rothschild
1884 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Havock owned by Mr C J Merry
1885 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Merry Prince owned by Mr H B Craig
1886 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Eastern Emperor owned by Duke of Beaufort
1887 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Carlton owned by Lord Edward Somerset

1888 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Kinsky owned by Mr J G R Homfray
1889 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Millstream owned by Mr Blundell Maple
1890 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Tyrant owned by Mr S J Baker
1891 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Vasistas owned by Baron de Hirsch
1892 Tradesmen’s Cup was won by Dare Devil owned by Mr C Perkins
1893 Chester Cup, Dare Devil ridden by J Fagan
1894 Chester Cup, Quaesitum ridden by T Loates
1895 Chester Cup, Kilsallaghan ridden by F Finlay
1896 Chester Cup, The Rush ridden by Otto Madden
1897 Chester Cup, Count Schomberg ridden by Sam Loates
1898 Chester Cup, Up Guards ridden by S.Chandley
1899 Chester Cup, Uncle Mac ridden by F Finlay
1900 Chester Cup, Roughside ridden by J.F.Sloan
1901 Chester Cup, David Garrick ridden by L Reiff
1902 Chester Cup, Carabine ridden by M Aylin
1903 Chester Cup, Vendale ridden by C.Trigg
1904 Chester Cup, Sandboy ridden by Walter Grigg
1905 Chester Cup, Imari ridden by Walter Saxby
1906 Chester Cup, Feather Bed ridden by A.Templeman
1907 Chester Cup, Querido ridden by J.Reiff. The Vase was a dead heat between Sancy, ridden by Otto Madden, and Earlston ridden by C Heckford.
1908 Chester Cup, Glacis ridden by F Wooton. The Vase was won by Galavani ridden by B Dillon
1909 Chester Cup, Santo Strato ridden by Otton Madden. The Vase was won by St Ninian ridden by H Watts.
1910 Chester Cup won by Elizabetta ridden by S.Wootton; the Vase was won by Bayardo ridden by D.Maher
1911 Chester Cup won by Willonyx ridden by Walter Higgs; the Vase was won by Maaz ridden by E.Piper
1912 Chester Cup, Rathlea ridden by C Foy. The Vase was won by Lycaeon ridden by F Wooton.

1934 Chester Cup, Blue Vision ridden by Freddie Fox. The Vase was won by Windsor Lad ridden by F Fox.
1935 Chester Cup, Damascus ridden by H.Foster. The Vase was won by Valerius ridden by Tom Weston.
1936 Chester Cup, Cho-Sen ridden by J.Dines. The Vase was won by Taj Akbar ridden by Gordon Richards
1937 Chester Cup, Faites vos Jeux ridden by P. Maher. The Vase was won by Merry Matthew ridden by William Nevett
1938 Chester Cup, Mr Grundy ridden by Gordon Richards. The Vase was won by Cave Man ridden by C Richards.
1939 Chester Cup, Winnebar ridden by Gordon Richards. The Vase was not contested.
1946 Chester Cup, Retsel ridden by C Richards. The Vase was won by Sky High ridden by T Weston.
1947 Chester Cup, Asmodee II ridden by T.Burn; The Vase was won by Edward Tudor ridden by Gordon Richards
1948 Chester Cup, Billet ridden by William Nevett. The Vase was won by Valgones ridden by Edgar Britt.
1949 Chester Cup, John Moore ridden by A.Carson. The Vase was won by Swallow Tail ridden by Doug Smith
1950 Cheshire Oaks run for the first time. The Chester Cup was won by Heron Bridge, ridden by Tom Burns, while the Vase was won by Castle Rock ridden Doug Smith
1951 Chester Cup, Wood Leopard ridden by J.Egan. The Vase was won by Supreme Court ridden by Rae Johnstone
1952 Chester Cup, Le Tellier ridden by G.Littlewood. The Vase was won by Summer Rain ridden by E.Mercer
1953 Chester Cup, Eastern Emperor ridden by Bill Rickaby. The Vase was won by Empire Honey ridden by E.Mercer
1954 Chester Cup, Peperium ridden by Edgar Britt. The Vase was won by Blue Rod ridden by D.Greening
1955 Chester Cup, Prescription ridden by Bill Rickaby. The Vase was won by Daemon ridden by J.Wilson

1956 Chester Cup, Golovine ridden by P.Robinson. The Vase was won by Articulate ridden by D.Ryan
1957 Chester Cup, Curry ridden by Josh Gifford. The Vase was won by King Babur ridden by P.Robinson
1958 Chester Cup, Sandiacre ridden by Lester Piggott. The Vase was won by Alcide ridden by Willie Snaith
1959 Chester Cup, Agreement owned by The Queen and ridden by W.H.Carr. The Vase was won by Fidalgo ridden by Stan Clayton
1960 Chester Cup, Trelawny ridden by Frankie Durr. The Vase was won by Mr Higgins ridden by W.Carr
1961 Chester Cup, Hoy ridden by Geoff Lewis. The Vase was won by Sovrango ridden by Joe Mercer
1962 Chester Cup, Golden Fire ridden by David Yates. The Vase was won by Silver Cloud ridden by Ron Hutchinson
1963 Chester Cup, Narratus ridden by David Yates. The Vase was won by Christmas Island ridden by Lester Piggott
1964 Chester Cup, Credo ridden by Paul Cook. The Vase was won by Indiana ridden by Joe Mercer
1965 Chester Cup, Harvest Gold ridden by Frankie Durr. The Vase was won by Gulf Pearl ridden by Jimmy Lindley
1966 Chester Cup, Aegean Blue ridden by Lester Piggott. The Vase was won by General Gordon ridden by Paul Cook
1967 Chester Cup, Mahbub Aly ridden by Paul Cook. The Vase was won by Great Host ridden by D.Lake
1968 Chester Cup, Major Rose ridden by Lester Piggott. The Vase was won by Remand ridden by Joe Mercer
1969 May meeting wiped out because of the flooding of the River Dee
1970 Chester Cup, Altogether ridden by Walter Bentley. The Vase was won by Politico ridden by Sandy Barclay
1971 Chester Cup, Random Shot ridden by Frankie Durr. The Vase was won by Linden Tree ridden by Duncan Keith
1972 Chester Cup, Eric ridden by A.Cressy. The Vase was won by Ormindo ridden by Brian Taylor
1973 Chester Cup, Crisalgo ridden by Walter Bentley. The Vase was won by Proverb ridden by Ernie Johnson
1974 Chester Cup, Attivo ridden by Roger Wernham. The Vase was won by Jupiter Pluvius ridden by John Gorton
1975 Chester Cup, Super Nova ridden by Ernie Johnson. The Vase was won by Shantallah ridden by Brian Taylor
1976 Chester Cup, John Cherry ridden by Lester Piggott. The Vase was won by Old Bill ridden by Brian Taylor
1977 Chester Cup, Sea Pigeon ridden by Mark Birch. The Vase was won by Hot Grove ridden by Lester Piggott
1978 Chester Cup, Sea Pigeon ridden by Mark Birch. The Vase was won by Icelandic ridden by Christy Roche
1979 Chester Cup, Charlotte’s Choice ridden by Willie Carson. The Vase was won by Cracaval ridden by Steve Cauthen
1980 Chester Cup, Arapahos ridden by Steve Cauthen. The Vase was won by Henbit ridden by Willie Carson
1981 Chester Cup, Donegal Prince ridden by P.Young. The Vase was won by Shergar ridden by W.R.Swinburn
1982 Chester Cup, Dawn Johnny ridden by Walter Swinburn. The Vase was won by Super Sunrise ridden by Paul Cook
1983 May meeting is wiped out because of the flooding of the River Dee
1984 Chester Cup, Contester ridden by Geoff Baxter. The Vase was won by Kaytu ridden by Willie Carson
1985 Chester Cup, Morgan’s Choice ridden by Willie Carson. The Vase was won by Law Society ridden by Pat Eddery
1986 Chester Cup, Western Dancer ridden by Paul Cook. The Vase was won by Nomrood ridden by Terry Quinn
1987 Chester Cup, Just David ridden by Maus Roberts. The Vase was won by Dry Dock ridden by Willie Carson
1988 Chester Cup, Old Hubert ridden by M.L.Thomas. The Vase was won by Unfuwain ridden by Willie Carson
1989 Chester Cup, Grey Salute ridden by Pat Eddery. The Vase was won by Old Vic ridden by Steve Cauthen
1990 Chester Cup, Travelling Light ridden by Alan Munro. The Vase was won by Belmez ridden by Steve Cauthen
1991 Chester Cup, Star Player ridden by Frankie Dettori. The Vase was won by Toulon ridden by Pat Eddery
1992 Chester Cup, Welshman ridden by John Quinn. The Vase was won by Twist & Turn ridden by Steve Cauthen
1993 Chester Cup, Rodeo Star ridden by Nicky Carlisle. The Vase was won by Armiger ridden by Pat Eddery
1994 Chester Cup, Doyce ridden by Gary Bardwell. The Vase was won by Broadway Flyer ridden by Michael Hills
1995 Chester Cup, Top Cees ridden by Kieron Fallon. The Vase was won by Luso ridden by Mick Kinane
1996 Chester Cup, Merit ridden by John Quinn. The Vase was won by High Baroque ridden by John Reid
1997 Chester Cup, Top Cees ridden by Jimmy Fortune. The Vase was won by Panama City ridden by John Reid
1998 Chester Cup, Silence in Court ridden by Alan Mackay. The Vase was won by Gulland ridden by Michael Hills
1999 Chester Cup, Rainbow High ridden by Michael Hills. The Vase was won by Peshtigo ridden by Michael Hills
2000 Chester Cup, Bangalore ridden by Gary Bardwell. The Vase was won by Millenary ridden by Pat Eddery
2001 Chester Cup, Rainbow High ridden by Richard Hughes. The Vase was won by Mr Combustible ridden by Michael Hills
2002 Chester Cup, Fantasy Hill ridden by Pat Eddery. The Vase was won by Fight Your Corner ridden by Kevin Darley
2003 Chester Cup, Hugs Dancer ridden by D.McKeown. The Vase was won by Dutch Gold ridden by Lanfranco Dettori
2004 Chester Cup, Anak Pekan ridden by Phillip Robinson. The Vase was won by Red Lancer ridden by R.Miles
2005 Chester Cup, Anak Pekan ridden by Peter Robinson. The Vase was won by Hatan ridden by Seb Sanders
2006 Chester Cup, Admiral ridden by John Egan. The Vase was won by Papal Bull ridden by Kieron Fallon
2007 Chester Cup, Greenwich Meantime ridden by Paul Hanagan. The Vase was won by Soldier of Fortune ridden by Mick Kinane
2008 Chester Cup, Bulwark ridden by Jim Crowley. The Vase was won by Doctor Freemantle ridden by Ryan Moore
2009 Chester Cup, Daraahem ridden by Richard Hills. The Vase was won by Golden Sword ridden by Colm O’Donoghue
2010 Chester Cup, Mamlook ridden by Richard Hughes. The Vase was won by Ted Spread ridden by Darryll Holland
2011 Chester Cup, Overturn ridden by Eddie Ahern. The Vase was won by Treasure Beach ridden by Ryan Moore
2012 Chester Cup, Ile de Re ridden by Jim Crowley. The Vase was won by Mickdaam ridden by Tony Hamilton
2013 Chester Cup, Address Unknown ridden by Jamie Spencer. The Vase was won by Ruler of the World ridden by Ryan Moore
2014 Chester Cup, Suegioo ridden by Ryan Moore. The Vase was won by Orchestra ridden by Ryan Moore
2015 Chester Cup, Trip to Paris ridden by Graham Lee. The Vase was won by Hans Holbein ridden by Ryan Moore
2016 Chester Cup, No Heretic ridden by Jamie Spencer. The Vase was won by US Army Ranger ridden by Ryan Moore
2017 Chester Cup, Montaly ridden by Oisin Murphy. The Vase was won by Venice Beach ridden by Ryan Moore